What about separation of church and state?
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John Hahn
Published: April 19, 2008
An article appearing on the front page of the Washington Times (March 30) reads in part, “The splashy April 16th party — in celebration of the Pope turning 81 — is sponsored by the eight former and current U. S.Ambassadors to the Vatican. Several hundred people are invited.”
What I don’t understand, why Rev. Barry Lynn, the Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State since 1992, hasn’t sued the Federal government for sponsoring such a celebration. And why hasn’t he objected to the Federal government sponsoring ambassadors to the Vatican in the past. According to his definition, that has to be the ultimate in the violation of separation of church and state, which incidentally is not even in our constitution.
In the past, his organization has sued when a state government wanted to put a statue of the ten commandments on government property or when high school football players wanted to pray before a game. But when a United States ambassador is appointed to the Vatican, he say nothing. Strange! Has this anything to do with the prophecies in the Book of Revelation?
JOHN HAHN
Woodbridge
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Posted by ( Sam B ) on April 21, 2008 at 11:27 am
While I am typically a proponent of church-state separation and was quite pleased that the 10 Commandments monument was removed from the Alabama courthouse, I do not object to the government paying for an ambassador to the Vatican or putting on a little pomp and circumstance for the pope. Vatican City is an independent, sovereign state. The pope, in addition to being a religious leader, is also a head of state. Other visiting heads of state receive similar treatment. These government actions are thus diplomatic, not religious.
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Posted by ( edwinking ) on April 21, 2008 at 10:00 am
John, the AU has protested the appointment of reps to the Vatican and so haver many other groups. I don’t think that Barry Lynn has protested when football players wanted to pray, it was when someone in authotity, coach,etc., told the players to pray. Any individual football player or any student is allowed to pray at any time that it does not interefer with the school program. Prayer in public schools has never been ruled illegal, only compulsary prayer that students are required to attend.
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Posted by ( blue_doggette ) on April 20, 2008 at 9:39 pm
The Vatican is an independent state. No one favors seperation of church and state more than I. However, this does not bother me in the least.
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